Chapter 8
At 8 o'clock the next morning, John and I got up and ready to go. I showered first while he ate breakfast. Then we reversed the roles. I ate breakfast while he showered. Once I was done with breakfast, I did my hair and make up. Dan, Ally, Matt, and Kourtney would be picking us up at 9 o'clock. Then we would hit the road to West Newbury.
John and I both could not stop smiling. We were both grinning ear to ear. It would be no secret to anyone that we both got laid last night, finally.
"You're so beautiful!" John blunted out.
I was standing in front of the mirror to his dresser as I put my make up on. I had my long, dark hair pulled back in a nice ponytail. I was wearing a pink and brown striped short-sleeve dress that went down to a few inches above my knees.
"Thank you," I said.
John smiled. "I have something for you."
I gave John a look. He came over to his dresser and went into one of the top draws. He pulled out a rectangular box. I smiled. I opened it up and there was a beautiful necklace inside.
"It's beautiful, John," I said. The pendant was in the shape of a butterfly. The body of the butterfly was a diamond
"It's yellow gold plated with sterling silver and a diamond accent butterfly pendant," John said. "The gemstone is amethyst. The chain is eighteen inches around. Amy helped me pick it out."
I smiled. Amethyst was a purple gemstone. Purple was my favorite color. "Thank you, John." I gave him a kiss.
"You're welcome. Can I help you put it on?"
"Yes," I said. I took the necklace out of the box and gave it to John. He then undid the clasp of the chain and then he stood behind me and brought it around my neck.
"There you go."
I smiled. I turned to look at him. "I appreciate the thought. Butterflies are my favorite."
"Yes, I know. Like I said, Amy helped me pick it out."
I smiled. "That is always a good approach: using the best friend."
"I'll keep that in mind for your birthday and Christmas."
I smiled. I looked at the clock on his side table. "I need to finish getting ready. Your brothers and their girls will be here soon to get us."
John looked at the clock on his side table. "Yeah, finish up. I'll meet you in the other room."
"Yes, sir, Officer Cena."
John chuckled. He gave me a kiss. He then walked out of the room. I finished with my make up and then headed out into the living room.
Dan called John to let us know that they were right outside. I grabbed my purse and another bag. John grabbed his Kindle Fire. We then headed down-stairs to the street. We were taking Matt's car. He had a Ford Explorer that sat eight passengers. When we got into the car, Dan and Ally were in the very back. John and I sat in the middle set of seats. Matt was in the driver's seat and Kourtney was in the passenger's side.
"Good morning," I said.
"Morning," Everyone replied.
"Safety belts," Matt said.
"Fastened," John said.
"Trish?"
"All set," I said.
"Good."
Matt put the car into drive and then he pulled out into traffic.
"I need a car," I said. "I sold mine before I moved."
"I've been thinking about getting one too," John said. "I'll need one for when I'm a detective."
"Amen to that, Bro," Dan said.
I chuckled. I was fiddling with my new necklace.
"What's that around your neck, Trish?" Matt asked.
I looked over at him. He was looking at me through the rearview mirror. I smiled. "This is a something your brother got me."
"Ooh, John got her jewelry only after three weeks," Kourtney said. She turned around. "What is it?"
"It is an amethyst gemstone in the shape of a butterfly."
"It's beautiful. Good job, John." She turned back around.
"Thanks," John said.
"Let me see," Ally said. She popped up behind me. I smiled. I made it so she could see it. "Very beautiful."
"Thank you," I said.
Dan popped up to take a look. "Yeah, that is beautiful."
"Yes, purple is one of my favorite colors and I also love butterflies."
"Amy helped me pick it out," John said.
"Oh, yes, double point for using her best friend," Ally said. "Yeah, you should use Jaclyn, Dan!"
"Is that your best friend?" I asked.
"No, that's my sister."
"Oh, yes, sisters work too. Of course, both my sisters live all the way in Georgia and he only knows Amy as well."
"I'm hoping that will change," John said.
"Eventually, you'll meet my family," I said. "But the pressure is on me to meet your mom."
"You'll be fine, Trish," Matt said. "She's really excited to meet you. John talks a lot of you when he talks to her. My brother is smitten!"
I smiled. "Yes, John told me on our second or third date that he was smitten by me."
"Awe," Kourtney and Ally chorused.
Dan and Matt were laughing.
"Shut up," John said. "I'm crazy for this girl and you dumbasses know it. How long did it take you two to admit your true feelings for Ally and Kourt?"
"Ooh, you struck a nerve," Ally said.
"Yeah, they did," Kourtney said.
"Sorry, John," Matt apologized.
"Yeah, sorry," Dan said.
"Dumbasses," John said.
I chuckled. Kourtney turned up the volume to the stereo. Dan and Ally started talking quietly. I looked over at John. He was reading. I unbuckled my seat belt and then moved over into the middle. I then quickly buckled up the seat belt for the middle.
John looked at me with a smile. "You're magnetic," I said. "My necklace magnified me to come closer."
John's smile widened. He wrapped his arm around me. I leaned forward and kissed him. "I'm crazy about you too," I whispered.
"I'm going to be honest with you, Trish," John whispered. "The way I feel for you is…I have never fallen for a girl as quickly as I have fallen for you…What I'm…I love you!"
I got a huge grin on my face. "I have never fallen for a guy as quickly as I have fallen for you either," I whispered. "I'm going with my gut and instinct on this feeling. I love you too!"
John smiled. He kissed me. "Randy and parents are the only ones to know how I really feel about you," He whispered. We wanted to keep our conversation private. "Randy is happy for me. My dad has always told me to trust my instincts like you are. My mom is overjoyed for me. It has been a long time since someone made feel love."
"Amy and my sisters know," I said. "Amy spotted it herself like I have spotted it between her and Phil."
Amy and Phil had finally told each other that they loved each other. That was a story for another time, though.
John kissed my forehead. "I love you, Patricia and I mean it!"
"I love you too, Johnny," I said. I gave him passionate kiss then.
"John and Trish, sitting in a tree," Matt said. "K-i-s-s-i-n-g."
John and I both looked at his brother through the rearview mirror.
"Joke all you want," John said. "I love this woman!"
I grinned.
"Holy crap?" Matt said.
"WTF?" Dan said.
Ally and Kourtney squealed with delight.
"What the hell, Bro?" Dan said, hitting the back of our seat.
"I'm in love with Patricia Anne Stratigias," John said. "And I don't care who knows!"
"And I'm in love with John Felix Anthony Cena Junior," I said. "And I don't care who knows!"
"You go, girl," Kourtney said. "You go too, John."
"Yes, good for you two," Ally said.
"Love is a beautiful thing," Matt said. "I love this girl sitting next me."
"And I love the girl sitting next to me," Dan said.
"All the Cena brothers are in love," Ally said. "Boog and Bri have only been together for a few months, but they're in love."
"Now if only we could find someone for my baby sister," I said. "Christie, who is just eleven months younger than me, is engaged and getting married soon."
"When is that?" John asked.
"In the spring. Invitations go out in January."
"Have Steve and Chelsea set a date yet?" Kourtney asked.
"No idea," Matt said.
"We'll ask Mom," John said. "She'll know. We all tell her and Dad certain things before we tell each other."
"I think if there was a wedding date set, Chelsea would have announced it at dinner last night," Ally said.
"Very true," Dan said.
"Let's worry about that wedding when need be," Matt said. "Right now, John Felix Anthony Cena Junior is in love and that is the first time in a very long time."
"Yeah," John said.
"To Trish for making our boy head over heels in love," Kourtney said.
"Here, here," Matt, Dan, and Ally said.
John and I just laughed.